Honoring Our Veterans: Helping Transform One Stratford Couple’s Life

A New Walk-In Shower, A Renewed Sense of Safety and Dignity

At CareFree Home Pros, we believe that the work we do should go beyond the bathroom — it should change lives. That’s why we were honored to partner with House of Heroes Connecticut (HOHCT) to help Stratford residents Lawrence “Larry” Lazaro, an 85-year-old U.S. Army Veteran, and his wife, Geri, safely stay in the home they love. Through this partnership, we were able to replace a decades-old, traditional bathtub with a no-cost walk-in shower — giving Geri comfort, accessibility, and peace of mind after her recent second knee replacement.

Meeting the Need: A Bathroom That Was No Longer Safe

Larry served in the Army from 1958 to 1961 and is a proud community member and volunteer with the Stratford Veterans Museum. As he and Geri aged, everyday tasks like bathing became increasingly difficult — and even dangerous — due to a cramped upstairs bathroom with a high tub wall.

“I had to sit on the edge of the tub. I could not lift my leg over the tub,” said Geri. “It was very uncomfortable and difficult. With the bathroom being so small, the fear of falling backward and hitting my head was a very frightening thing.”

Unable to afford the costly bathroom renovation on their own, Larry reached out to Stratford’s Constituent Services Manager, Molly Ryan, who connected them to House of Heroes — and the transformation began.

CareFree Home Pros Steps In

This project was a perfect fit for our team. As a company committed to serving our local Connecticut and Massachusetts communities, we had previously partnered with HOHCT to renovate the bathroom of a Plainville widow of a Vietnam Veteran. The experience was so meaningful that we were eager to do it again — and Larry and Geri’s story touched all of us.

“When I was told what was going to be done for us at our home, I had to see it to believe it,” said Geri. “Every time now I get in the shower and sit on my seat, I lean back and thank the Lord because this is a true blessing.” “They did a great job,” added Larry. “They said they’d be here at 8 — and they were. They finished the job in one day. I was just amazed.”

Gratitude Shared Across the Community

This project represents what’s possible when people come together to serve those who have already given so much. From Mayor Laura Hoydick and the Town of Stratford, to House of Heroes, to our own CareFree team — the gratitude was felt by all.

“We are just bursting with pride, having been able to thank Larry for his service to our country and help Larry and Geri with their new walk-in shower,” said Scott Stancliffe, General Manager at CareFree Home Pros. “For me personally, I come from a Veteran family. My father served in World War II. My brother served in Vietnam. I know how these experiences change lives. This is our way of giving back.”